Neuropsychiatric Profile in Malaria: An Overview

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology

Background:

• Malaria affects 300-500 million people globally, causing over one million deaths annually.
• The nervous system is frequently involved in malaria, necessitating a deeper understanding for improved patient outcomes.
• This study focuses on the neuropsychiatric manifestations of malaria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the range and frequency of neuropsychiatric manifestations in malaria patients.
• To identify specific malaria species associated with these neurological symptoms.
• To inform diagnostic and management strategies for malaria with neurological involvement.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted on 170 malaria patients admitted to PBM Hospital, Bikaner.
• Patients of all ages (excluding pediatric) were included if diagnosed with malaria via smear, optimal test, or strip test.
• Only cases with asexual malaria parasites confirmed by blood smear or optimal test were included.

Main Results:

• Plasmodium falciparum (PF) was the most common species (62%), followed by Plasmodium vivax (PV) (33.5%).
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms in PF malaria included altered consciousness (18.01%), headache (15.32%), and psychosis (5.40%).
• Cerebral malaria occurred in 21 of 111 PF malaria patients, with altered consciousness being the most frequent symptom.

Conclusions:

• Neuropsychiatric manifestations are a significant and common presentation of malaria, predominantly caused by PF malaria.
• Malaria should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with fever and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
• The study findings are valuable for improving the diagnosis and management of malaria-induced neuropsychiatric conditions.